I remember this time of year during my senior year of high school all too well. I was an outrageously eager senior who counted off the days until I graduated and became a part of a college community where I would be proud to flaunt its name on a T-shirt. Eventually, every conversation you eavesdropped on in the hallways surrounded the same topics: what schools people were applying to when they would hear back, and how nervous people were about the 'unthinkable' happening — not getting into their dream school.

November of 2014 rolled around, and I successfully completed 11 college applications along with essays consisting of 500+ words of complete detail, supplements, and resumes that made me the ideal candidate for every school I applied to. I had very high expectations for the university I was going to attend. Big sports school, well-rounded education (but also liked to party), excellent Greek life, gorgeous college town, and everything in-between when picturing your ideal next four years. With all of these standards I had, the more difficult it seemed to be accepted into a school that fit that perfect image in my head. In the back of my mind, I was fully aware some of my credentials did not meet the standards for some universities. My mom suggested that I applied to more than one safety school other than Iowa, and I remember saying, verbatim, "Mom, what are the odds I don't get into one of these 11 schools? And if Iowa is the only school I get into (I said jokingly), I'll apply to go to a satellite school for another university for two years and then decide where to go from there. I am not going to Iowa, don't worry." So only one safety school and 10 others that I have a slim chance of getting into? That's ok, I thought, my essays and extracurriculars were sure to blow these admission offices away.

Wrong.

So, so terribly wrong.

December rolled around, first denial. I brushed it off, thinking that it was still unbelievably early to be hearing back from such large universities. Plus, January is the real month to be scared of. Since I applied for early-admission for each school, I would hear back no later than January. I had Christmas break to prepare myself for what I had no idea would be the worst toll my mind would ever take.

January of 2015 is the month I solemnly memorized the words, "We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission to the _____ for fall 2015". I switched from crying about "Gossip Girl" scandals and not being able to survive my Taco Bell cravings at 2 a.m. to crying about the fact that I was not good enough for any of my dream schools. I wish I could find the words to describe the plummet in my self-esteem after repeated denials filled my email and mailbox. I would stay awake at night with the lingering thoughts of being harshly and blindly denied from 10 universities, except one.

You guessed it, it appeared that I was about to commit the next four years of my life to the University of Iowa. I constantly thought to myself how I was going to explain to my east-coast friends that I was heading to the most random state in the USA to further my education. I felt dumb, and hated that I had to explain my reasoning to go to the certain college that I 'chose' to attend. Eventually I sucked it up, came to terms with this reality, and I am currently typing this as I head into my 13th week of college at the University of Iowa.

Never in a million, trillion years did I expect to be thanking 10 remarkable universities for denying me admission. If that had not happened, I wouldn't be the person I am today, who is well-rounded, appreciative, and takes pride in the school that I proudly and willfully attend. In my three short months of living in the midwest, I have experienced the joy of an undefeated football team, making 50+ new, amazing sorority sisters, and gaining an education that I couldn't imagine getting anywhere else. Thank you, colleges that denied me, for unintentionally giving me the strength to take on a completely new environment, pushing me out of my comfort zone, and ultimately making me a better version of myself. Thank you for making me realize that I am more than just the ACT/SAT score, a resume that I half bullshitted, and the countless essays that made me praise Thesaurus.com. Thank you, to those 10 universities, for leading me to further my education in Iowa. I am the happiest, most content I have ever been in my life, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me here. And one last thank you to those who denied me, you made me realize that whatever happens to me in life, it is meant to be. No matter how much I used to deny it, I wholeheartedly believe that everything happens for a reason, and being denied from 10 out of 11 schools has transformed me into the firmest believer of that statement.

I have also noticed a pattern in the rest of my articles. They all seem to end along the lines of "Thank you, Iowa for _____", so I will stick to it. Thank you Iowa, for accepting me and making me into the person I am today.